31 August 2024
(Article by Marlowe Bloem)
On Saturday, Durban High School (DHS) hosted Maritzburg College on the football field, with the long-standing rivals doing battle in blustery midday conditions, Despite the challenges posed by the wind, the teams produced an eye-catching spectacle.
It was the visitors who made an early breakthrough, with College opening the scoring only six minutes into the contest. The Midlands side built up play from their side own half. Then, they spotted space behind the Horseflies‘ backline. A precise 40 metre pass was put between the DHS defenders and Mazithi Qasha sped past them to gather the ball and coolly chip the goalkeeper from the edge of the box for an elegant opener.
In the 15th minute, DHS retaliated from a throw-in. An incredible 30-metre wind-aided throw headed towards the box and forward Asanda Dlamini glanced the ball into the net for the home side’s opener.
Just five minutes later, School had not only fought their way from behind, but they took the lead. A free kick near the right touchline and about 35 metres from goal was whipped into the box. There, the ball came off a College defender and into the path of defender Usadolo Uyiosa, who smashed it into the net from 10 metres out.
The Red, Black and White equalised on the stroke of half-time. An incredible spell of possession, which started from inside their own half, enabled the visitors to manipulate the DHS defenders and move them out of position. Having created space in the box, a cross was whipped in. Striker Jordyn Marais chested the ball down, cut in left, then right, and blasted it into goal. The superb ball movement and possession resembled a Pep Guardiola side that’s on song.
But it wasn’t just the short passes that worked. Long passes also did the trick for the two evenly matched titans. College played some wonderful possession football to create space for their wingers and full backs out wide. DHS played with speed and skill to create threatening runs into the College box. Strong defence from both sides kept the score at 2-2 at the break.
Only a minute into the second half, DHS scored their third. Another long ball was launched for captain Callan Smith. He took some beautifully controlled touches to collect it and glided ahead of the nearest defender before taking the ball around the ‘keeper and passing it into the net.
Unbowed, College bounced back only two minutes later. A through ball down the right flank was collected just before it crossed the backline. Then, a low cross was sent into the box where Marais was on hand to tap it in for his second. It was all square again at 3-3.
The hosts scored a similar goal in the 41st minute, their fourth, to edge ahead again. A through ball down the right flank was delivered low into the box and DHS skipper Smith matched College’s Marais by tapping in for his second.
College responded well and went in search of a fourth goal of their own. Once more, given the issues the wind was causing defenders, they turned to a long ball into the box. When the receiving player was pushed to the ground before collecting the it, the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
DHS made a ‘keeper sub for the penalty, bringing on Connor Quinn, an established standout in penalty shootouts, for Bophelo Zondi. Despite this, Nzolo Ngcemu‘s last minute strike rattled the right corner of the net to draw his side level.
Full-time score: 4-4.
Although the teams were tied after regulation time, the contest couldn’t end that way. There was, after all, the Raw Cup on the line. Thus, the contest headed to the penalty spot.
College’s CJ Sukraj, then, pulled off a couple of saves to secure a nail-biting victory for the visitors from the spot by a 4-2 margin, which enabled them to wrest the Raw Cup from DHS’s clutches.
The inter-city contest promised much and it delivered in spades. A tight game with many wonderful goals and enjoyable football kept viewers entertained from start to finish. In the end, a draw would have been a fair result, with both teams having good reason to feel proud of their efforts, but there was a cup to be won.
The competition between the rivals’ 16 teams – four in each age group – was remarkably tightly contested and goals were not in short supply. Overall, DHS won eight games, College won seven, and there was only one draw. DHS scored 27 goals and College struck 25 times.
RESULTS
1st: DHS 4-4 Maritzburg College (College won 4-2 on penalties)
2nd: DHS 0-2 Maritzburg College
3rd: DHS 1-0 Maritzburg College
4th: DHS 3-2 Maritzburg College
16A: DHS 3-0 Maritzburg College
16B: DHS 0-4 Maritzburg College
16C: DHS 2-1 Maritzburg College
16D: DHS 2-1 Maritzburg College
15A: DHS 4-2 Maritzburg College
15B: DHS 0-1 Maritzburg College
15C: DHS 1-2 Maritzburg College
15D: DHS 3-1 Maritzburg College
14A: DHS 2-1 Maritzburg College
14B: DHS 0-1 Maritzburg College
14C: DHS 0-0 Maritzburg College
14D: DHS 2-3 Maritzburg College
Click here to change this text
Leave a Reply